Candidates agree that driving issues across the city include improving roads, maintaining a stable budget, prioritizing public safety and seeking solutions to affordable housing. Differences emerge as they state their positions on development and downtown.

While any of the candidates is a reasonable choice for voters who agree with his or her philosophy, we offer the following endorsements:

Sumi Kailasapathy

First Ward: Incumbent Sumi Kailasapathy is seeking to hold onto the seat she’s held since 2012, while challenger Don Adams is making his first bid for a seat. Kailasapathy, a CPA who sits on the audit committee, makes the case that those skills are an asset on the council and we agree by offering our endorsement. She voices concern that existing residents in the city’s neighborhoods can feel like they take a backseat during council’s priority setting of council, and we think that her voice and experience will help find compromise between those competing goals over the next two years. Her challenger brings valuable experience as an Ann Arbor Public Schools volunteer and is gaining ward-wide perspective through his door-to-door campaigning. Were he not facing an experienced and competent incumbent, he would have our endorsement. We encourage him to pursue more community board or commission experience in order to deepen his knowledge of city issues for a future bid for office.

Kirk Westphal

Second Ward: Planning Commissioner Kirk Westphal is making his second run for council, this time against Library Board Trustee Nancy Kaplan. Both seek the seat opened by Sally Hart Petersen, who is running for mayor. While both candidates have a history of public service, we give the endorsement in this race to Westphal. We can expect debate about development – both downtown and in other areas of the city – to continue, and we believe Westphal’s professional experience as an urban planner and his practical experience on planning commission give him a unique voice to help guide how policy changes can reflect community goals.

Sam McMullen

Third Ward: Three challengers are facing off in this ward for the seat vacated by Christopher Taylor, who is running for mayor: Former park advisory commissioner Julie Grand, making her second try for council; long-time downtown barber Bob Dascola; and University of Michigan sophomore Samuel McMullen. In many ways, two candidates in this race embody the polarization on council: Grand is the establishment candidate; Dascola is aligned with the council members that he described as “independent thinkers.” As the council balance shifts, we believe that residents across the city benefit from advocates of both sides debating, negotiating and publicly vetting city policy. At the same time, we don’t believe that either of these candidates fully distinguished themselves beyond predicted roles. McMullen, who grew up in Lower Burns Park and lives in the University of Michigan’s East Quad, lacks the experience of the others. However, he did present maturity, poise and confidence in expressing political theory – and, surprisingly, an ability to articulate nuanced difference in the ward and the goal of avoiding polarization. He is not a candidate running on a whim, nor does he express only issues of interest to a college student. McMullen needs to further his knowledge about municipal budgeting and processes; but he also shows understanding of city operations and issues at hand in the community. With Petersen leaving her 2nd Ward seat, we would see McMullen fitting into the ‘swing vote’ position on a city-wide council while still understanding and seeking input from less-enfranchised residents of the 3rd Ward.